Libby asbestos health care grant goes into effect next week
A $6 million grant designed to provide medical screenings and health care to those who lived or worked near an asbestos mine in Libby, Montana is scheduled to go into effect next week. The Department of Health and Human Services grant will begin providing health care funds next week to those who have developed illnesses caused by the Libby asbestos mine. Free screenings for qualified patients will begin on November 16.
The funding for patients with mesothelioma or other asbestos illnesses was made possible after the Environmental Protection Agency declared Libby a public health emergency in June 2009. This required the government to provide funds to pay the health care costs of those who were injured by asbestos exposure in Libby.
The grant will provide $4 million for health care and $2 million for medical screenings over a two year period. Under the program, patients who lived or worked around Libby for at least six months and whose first potential asbestos exposure occurred at least 10 years ago will be eligible for a free screening.
Individuals who are diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer or other asbestos diseases will be eligible for health care coverage under the Federal Libby Asbestos Specialty Healthcare plan. FLASH will cover all asbestos-related illnesses not covered by another health care plan. Patients who have developed cancer but do not display any lung abnormalities will still be eligible for coverage under the program, provided that they lived or worked near Libby.